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Overcrowded trains and a lack of legal consequences for groping in Japan have led to a rise in "chikan," or groping, which has been linked to a mental condition and compounded by cultural stigmas.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Apr 13, 2025

'Chikan' incidents rise as Japan grapples with mental health and cultural challenges

The governments of the U.K. and Canada have warned their citizens traveling to Japan that they could experience inappropriate physical contact — or "chikan" — on crowded trains
Japan celebrates after beating Canada to secure a spot in the Billie Jean King Cup finals at Ariake Colosseum on Sunday.
TENNIS
Apr 14, 2025

Japan gets past Canada to book spot in Billie Jean King Cup finals

The United States also booked a spot after defeating Slovakia.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba speaks during a Lower House Budget Committee session on Monday.
BUSINESS / Economy
Apr 14, 2025

Japan avoids tariff confrontation ahead of crucial U.S. trade talks

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba again ruled out imposing retaliatory measures, arguing that escalation would not serve the country’s national interest.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore during an interview in Tokyo. The governor is in Japan on a four-day trade and investment mission.
BUSINESS / Economy
Apr 14, 2025

Maryland governor talks trains and trade while in Japan

Gov. Wes Moore said he believes the Northeast Maglev — which may use technology from Japan — could transform the region's economy.
Japan’s population has been falling year on year since 2011 after peaking in 2008.
JAPAN / Society
Apr 14, 2025

Japan’s population shrinks for the 14th consecutive year

Japan’s population has been falling year on year since 2011 after peaking in 2008.
Whooping cough is believed to be spreading in Japan mainly among children.
JAPAN / Science & Health
Apr 14, 2025

Whooping cough is spreading in Japan

Cases reported so far this year have already exceeded the total number from 2024.
A rendering of East Japan Railway's E10 series of bullet trains
BUSINESS / Companies
Apr 15, 2025

Japan to give India E5 and E3 shinkansen for free

The E10 trains are expected to be put into service in the South Asian country in the early 2030s.
New Zealand's Mark Tele'a in action in October 2023
MORE SPORTS / Rugby
Apr 15, 2025

All Black wing Tele'a announces Japan switch

Media reports have suggested that the 28-year-old will join Toyota Verblitz.
A computer-generated image of the Maritime Self-Defense Force's next-generation offshore patrol vessel
JAPAN
Apr 15, 2025

Japan begins work on naval patrol vessels to boost surveillance

The ships will require fewer personnel and feature autonomous navigation and other state-of-the-art systems, allowing them to perform a range of operations.
Ride-sharing vehicles in Kiryu, Gunma Prefecture, in March
JAPAN / Society / FOCUS
Apr 15, 2025

One year in, ride-hailing in Japan has room for improvement

Japan has lagged in adopting ride-hailing services, largely due to opposition from the country's powerful taxi industry.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba (right) and Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov shake hands at the Prime Minister's Office on Tuesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 16, 2025

Ishiba's expo diplomacy begins with hosting of Turkmen president

The two leaders released a joint statement calling for maintaining "the free and open international order based on the rule of law."
A crowd of tourists walks through Nishiki Market in Kyoto in March. The number of foreign visitors to Japan was 3.5 million last month, bringing the total through the first quarter to 10.54 million.
JAPAN
Apr 16, 2025

Japan crosses 10 million visitors mark at fastest ever pace

Arrivals of foreign visitors for business and leisure were 3.5 million last month, bringing the total through the first quarter to 10.54 million.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has sent a delegation to Washington for high-stakes tariff talks, as other nations watch to see if Tokyo can secure favorable terms from the Trump administration.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Apr 16, 2025

If Japan can’t get a good trade deal, can anyone?

The Asian nation is the canary in the tariff coal mine. If it can’t secure a good deal, there’s little hope for others.
Economic revitalization minister Ryosei Akazawa, Japan's chief tariff negotiator, responds to a question at Haneda Airport in Tokyo ahead of his visit to the United States on Wednesday.
BUSINESS / Economy
Apr 16, 2025

Akazawa, Japan’s tariff czar, jets to Washington for mission impossible 

Tokyo realizes that achieving a satisfactory meeting of the minds with Washington will be a real challenge.
Ryosei Akazawa, Japan's chief tariff negotiator, speaks to reporters in Washington on Wednesday.
BUSINESS / Economy
Apr 17, 2025

Japan and the U.S. begin tariff talks on good terms, but without breakthroughs

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said there are still gaps between the respective stances of Japan and the U.S.
With Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's visit to Vietnam and the Philippines later this month, Japan is hoping to counter China through stronger cooperation with Southeast Asian countries.
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 17, 2025

Ishiba to visit Vietnam and the Philippines from April 27

The trip comes at a time when China is cozying up to Southeast Asian countries.
Bottles of Hakkaisan-brand sake for export
BUSINESS
Apr 17, 2025

U.S. tariffs overshadow Japan's agriculture and food exports

Japanese goods need to be sold by "emphasizing that there are no alternatives" to them, said Kazuhito Yamashita, senior researcher at the Canon Institute for Global Strategies.
Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato listens to a question during an interview at the Finance Ministry in Tokyo on Thursday.
BUSINESS / Economy
Apr 18, 2025

Japan's finance minister is 'deeply concerned' over impact of Trump's tariffs

The minister also voiced concern over volatile market moves that Trump's tariffs triggered, saying they could hurt Japan's economic recovery.
Pro-Yoon Suk Yeol supporters gather on the side of a road as they wait for the arrival of the former South Korean president outside the Central District Court in Seoul on Monday.
EDITORIALS
Apr 18, 2025

New leadership in South Korea should stay the course on Japan ties

Democracy should be frustrating. It is intended to force compromise, a process that will inevitably be slow and exasperating.
Ryosei Akazawa, Japan's top tariff negotiator with the U.S., speaks to reporters upon his arrival at Tokyo's Haneda Airport on Friday, a day after talks in Washington.
BUSINESS / Economy
Apr 19, 2025

Japan tariff negotiator rules out quick U.S. deal despite push by Trump

Ryosei Akazawa said that while the U.S. president wants to speed up negotiations, any agreement would likely take some time.
Japanese products imported to the U.S. had been hit with 24% levies, although these rates, like most of U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs, have been paused for 90 days.
BUSINESS
Apr 19, 2025

Japan considering soybean and rice concessions in U.S. tariff talks: report

In their first round of bilateral talks, U.S. negotiators brought up automobiles and rice as areas where they said Tokyo puts up market barriers.
People walk near Tokyo's Sensoji temple in July 2024 amid a heat wave.
JAPAN / Science & Health
Apr 19, 2025

Japan to start special heatstroke alert system Wednesday

The Environment Ministry will issue the special alert when dangerous heat levels are expected.
Maritime Self-Defense Force sailors stand in formation after two Japanese vessels docked at the Ream naval base in Cambodia on Saturday.
JAPAN
Apr 19, 2025

MSDF ships make port call at China-linked Cambodian base

The Cambodian government is believed to have been eyeing diplomatic balance by accepting vessels from Japan, a U.S. ally.
Ryosei Akazawa, Japan's Economic Revitalization Minister and top tariff negotiator with the U.S., speaks to the press upon his arrival at Haneda Airport in Tokyo on Friday.
BUSINESS / Markets
Apr 20, 2025

Japan mulls reviewing car safety rules to strike deal with Trump

The report comes after Japan’s chief negotiator Ryosei Akazawa kicked off tariff discussions with U.S. counterparts in Washington last week.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba speaks to reporters at his official residence in Tokyo on Thursday.
BUSINESS / Economy
Apr 20, 2025

No concessions over food safety in Japan-U.S. talks, Ishiba says

The prime minister also said that expanding LNG imports could be used as a bargaining chip.
Bags of rice at a warehouse in Pyeongtaek, South Korea. Japan imported South Korean rice for the first time since 1999 this month amid soaring domestic prices for the staple grain.
BUSINESS / Economy
Apr 21, 2025

Japan buys first South Korean rice in over two decades as prices surge

The Japan office of South Korea’s National Agricultural Cooperative Federation said it brought in and sold 2 tons of Korean rice this month.
Demand for Japanese debt has risen since March as the Trump administration’s higher tariffs sparked a surge in market volatility.
BUSINESS
Apr 21, 2025

Japan’s superlong bonds draw record foreign inflow on haven bid

Global funds bought a net ¥2.18 trillion of the nation’s debt with original maturities of more than 10 years.
More than half of Japan's population may suffer from pollen allergies, with hay fever dubbed the nation’s "national disease" and blamed for being a drag on the economy.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Apr 21, 2025

Did I fall victim to Japan’s stealth productivity killer?

Hay fever has been dubbed Japan’s "national disease” and blamed as a major drag on productivity.
Lower House lawmaker Kai Odake in his Tokyo office on Wednesday
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Apr 21, 2025

Is Japan’s parliament ready to welcome more youth to its ranks?

Among the world’s largest democracies, Japan has some of the highest minimum age requirements for politicians.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba (right) and his Dutch counterpart, Dick Schoof, shake hands after a joint news conference at the Prime Minister's Office on Monday.
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 22, 2025

Japanese and Dutch leaders agree to strengthen cooperation

The two leaders announced an action plan calling for cooperation in a wide range of fields, including diplomacy, security, economy and culture.

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